The American field for the 2017 Chicago Marathon has been announced and it includes 60-year-old Joan Benoit Samuelson who aims to become the first woman in her sixties to run a sub 3-hour marathon.

Samuelson does have a lot of experience in the marathon, to say the least, and has set the marathon world record twice before.

The first world record was at the Boston Marathon in 1983 when she ran in 2:22.43 and then in 1985 at the Chicago Marathon, completing it in 2:21.21.

The American also won an Olympic gold in the marathon at the Los Angles Olympics in 1984.

Still regardless of past glories, to go for another world record at sixty years of age won’t be easy and the attempt in itself should be commended.

Samuelson said: “Storytelling is important to me and it’s how I motivate myself.

“My race decisions often reflect my narrative. Once I turned 60, I knew that the Chicago Marathon would represent the next chapter in my career.”

The existing 60-64 age group world record is held by New Zealand’s Bernie Portenski, who in 2010, ran 3:01.30 at Gold Coast marathon.

The Olympic win in 1984 was also the first time the women’s marathon featured at the Olympics. See Joan’s famous win below.

Set to join Samuelson in the 40th Chicago marathon are Galen Rupp, a three-time Olympian and Jordan Hasay, who broke the American marathon debut record this year.